USA > California > Glenn County > History of Colusa and Glenn counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 82
USA > California > Colusa County > History of Colusa and Glenn counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 82
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Harvey Edward Provence received his education in the public schools of the Elk Creek district. From a lad he was familiar with farming and stock-raising, and assisted his father on the home farm. When the sinking of the Maine precipitated the Spanish-American War, the spirit of patriotism which called his father in 1861, inspired the son in 1898 to the defense of his na- tive land; and he volunteered in Company K, Eighth California Regiment, and was mustered in at Camp Barrett, and served with the regulars until 1899, when he received his honorable discharge on account of physical disability. On his enlistment he wrote his name Provence, and has continued to use the "e" instead of "i" in the spelling of his name.
Upon his return home, Mr. Provence began farming for him- self. Ile bought a few head of cattle and began on a small scale to build up a stock industry, gradually increasing his herd until his brand, HI. P. connected, has become well known all over the
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connty. He leased one thousand acres for his cattle range, and in connection with his stock-raising carried on a dairy business. He continued in this line of industry for several years, and met with good success in the undertaking. In 1905 he bought his present ranch of one hundred twenty-two acres in the Oakdale district, and later added one hundred sixty acres within a quarter of a mile dis- tant, so that he has over two hundred eighty acres of land. He built his residence and barns, and put on all the other improve- ments seen on the ranch today. He has taken ont a ditch from the south fork of Elk Creek, and raises fine crops of alfalfa.
The marriage of Harvey E. Provence, which occurred at Wil- lows, in December, 1902, united him with Miss Georgia True, a native of Iowa. They have three children: Austin Edgar, Lola Margaret, and Evelyn. Politically a Republican, Mr. Provence has always taken an active interest in measures affecting the wel- fare of his county. He has been particularly interested in educa- tional affairs, and is now serving as clerk of the board of trustees of the Oakdale school district.
EDWARD E. GREEN
A public-spirited citizen who has given freely for the advance- ment of the community in which he has lived since he was a boy, is Edward E. Green, the pioneer of Colusa County, who was born in Clay County, Ill., August 15, 1871, the son of John V. Green, a native of Indiana. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Catherine Helm, of Illinois. In 1875, the elder Green moved west- ward with his family, and located in Colusa Connty, Cal., near what is now Orland. Two years later, Mr. Green homesteaded a piece of land in Tehama County; but after another two years he was back in the Orland district, where he rented land on the Car- penter ranch, along Stony Creek, and planted the same to grain. After four years of farming, he returned to the site of Orland, and engaged in various occupations for some years. The last five years of his life were spent in the northern mines. He died in 1901. Besides Edward Green, three children of this worthy pio- neer are living: Joseph Sparks; a daughter who became Mrs. Joseph Sperlich, of Orland; and another daughter, Mrs. Henry Moore, of Knights Landing, in Yolo County. Three others are de- ceased : Victoria, died aged twenty-five; Alex S., died leaving four children; and E. Dewees, died aged thirty-four.
Edward Green was educated at the public schools. He worked on the farm, driving a mule team, and otherwise getting the most
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valuable practical experience. In 1896, he embarked in the liquor business at Orland, and in that line of activity he has continued ever since.
In 1900 Mr. Green married Jennie Wright, of Tehama County, who died on April 1, 1912, leaving one son, Victor Green, now a promising vonth of sixteen years, and a student at the Orland high school. On March 2, 1916, Mr. Green was again married, Mrs. Maybelle Martin of Sacramento becoming his wife. They have a fine home at Orland. Popular among those who know and appreciate his good personal qualities, Mr. Green is a welcome member of the Blue Lodge of Masons.
ARTHUR RAYMOND HANCOCK
A striking example of what energy and resourcefulness can accomplish, when wisely directed and centralized, is furnished in the career of Arthur Raymond Hancock, the enterprising electri- cal contractor of Willows. "Ray" Hancock, as he is familiarly known by his intimate friends, was born near Waterloo, San Joa- quin County, February 17, 1877. He was the son of Sampson Hancock, a sturdy pioneer who started across the plains from Keokuk, Iowa, on the very day in 1861 when Fort Sumter was fired upon. Arriving in California, he settled on a farm in San Joaquin County, where he passed his declining days.
Arthur Raymond Hancock attended the public schools of his native county, and finished his schooling at Ramsey's Business College, at Stockton. He had his first commercial experience at Fresno, when he became manager and half owner of the White Star Steam Laundry, in which enterprise he got a good start in dealing with the world. After two years he went to the Hawaiian Islands, where he engaged in electrical contracting in Honolulu and Hilo for four or five years. In 1906, he returned to Califor- nia, and for a time worked as journeyman electrician. Later, he engaged for himself in contracting in the same field, and employed a force of seven workmen. He happened to be in the vicinity of San Francisco immediately after the great fire, and handled some of the largest contracts in rebuilding the destroyed section of the city.
When he came to Willows, in 1910, he opened an electric shop in a tent, for the very good reason that there was not a vacant store or office where he could otherwise install and display his stock ; and as business grew, he enlarged the tent and added more
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and more to the variety of his stock, giving careful attention to the quality of his goods. This enabled him, when the Glenn County Savings Bank erected its building, to take possession of some of the best quarters there; and fully equipped with a line of goods one might be glad to find in a large city, he soon had a part in furnishing all of the new buildings of importance in the town. These include the Willows high school building, the Savings Bank, the Barceloux building, the library, the Masonic Temple, and the fittings for the Superior California Farm Lands Company ; and he has just completed the contract for wiring the town of Dunnigan, south of Willows. His territory extends from Gerber south to Dunnigan; and he has installed many of the irrigation pumping plants in the district, making a specialty of that particular work. On May 15, 1917, Mr. Hancock moved to 127 South Tehama Street, where he has added to his already complete general electric lines, auto electrical supplies and repairing, giving the business his per- sonal attention.
Some years ago Mr. Hancock married Miss Anna Spangler, a native daughter from Butte County; and by her he has had two children of unusual promise, Marcie and Anna. Mr. Hancock finds his chief delight in the home circle. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters.
WILLIAM T. KIDD
How many steps are necessary in the upward rugged climb in life ere one attains to prosperity and success, may be judged from the busy life and substantial accomplishments of William T. Kidd, the enterprising hay and grain dealer of Williams. Born on June 7, 1849, in Nelson County, in the good old state of Virginia, and reared in the adjoining commonwealth of West Virginia, he spent his boyhood and youth on a farm, and attended the common schools of his neighborhood and time, laying broad and deep the foundations for his later struggles in life. In 1875, he came to California ; and after passing a year in Mendocino County, he took up his residence in the Williams section of Colusa County. He worked for a while as a ranch laborer, for wages, but later became one of the largest grain farmers in the same district in which he had first started to climb the ladder of prosperity.
In 1878, having acquired considerable practical experience, Mr. Kidd began to rent land, which he farmed to grain. He first took a lease on the Stanley ranch, securing five hundred acres, which he cultivated for five years; and then for ten years he
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rented and farmed the Wakefield ranch of eleven hundred aeres. For three or more years he cultivated the Lee Welsh ranch of eleven hundred acres, west of Williams; and then he farmed the Crocker place across the river, bringing its four thousand acres, during the three years in which he had supervision there, to a high state of development.
Eminently successful, and commanding the respect of a wide section of the county for his character and his valuable practical experience, Mr. Kidd was elected supervisor of Colusa County on the Democratie ticket in 1896, and served a term of four years. During his incumbency in office, the bridge across the Sacramento River at Colusa was built. . He was also road superintendent while acting as supervisor, and built the Leesville grade road, generally regarded as the best in Colusa County.
As a business man, Mr. Kidd was for many years engaged in buying and selling hogs and shipping them to the San Francisco market; and he became one of the largest shippers in Northern California, sending off as many as a thousand hogs at one con- signment. At present he is engaged in the hay, grain, coal and wood business, and buys and ships poultry and eggs.
Some years ago Mr. Kidd was married to Miss Mary Epper- son, a member of a well-known pioneer family, by whom he has had two children: Florence, the wife of E. Whiting, of San Fran- cisco; and Leah. Fraternally, Mr. Kidd is a popular member of Central Lodge, No. 229, I. O. O. F., of Williams, in which he has passed through all the chairs.
CHARLES K. SWEET
A most important factor in the npbuilding and growth of Wil- liams, and one whose wide and helpful influence is likely to be felt far beyond the limitations of the ordinary span of life, is Charles K. Sweet, who was born in San Augustine County, Texas, Sep- tember 2, 1867, first seeing the light of day in San Augustine, the oldest town in the Lone Star State. His father and grandfather were large planters. He pursued his studies in the grammar schools; and after finishing his courses in the day schools he con- tinued his studies, on his removal to Dallas, in the night school. He graduated, in 1891, from the University of Texas, where he made a specialty of mechanical and electrical engineering. After- wards he took a postgraduate course in electrical engineering in Boston, and then returned to Dallas to work for the Southwest Telegraph & Telephone Company. So pronounced was his ability,
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and so satisfactory was his service, that he was retained by that concern for fourteen years, during which time he traveled through Texas, Arkansas, and Indian Territory, and for the Bell Tele- phone Company in Eastern states. He also made trips through North and South Dakota, to Boston, and later made a tour of Europe, finally coming, in 1907, to take up his residence in Williams.
Here he built the Colusa County Telephone System, and also a part of the same system for Glenn County. He constructed the first electric light plant in Williams, which he owned and con- ducted for a while himself, and then sold to the Northern Califor- nia Power Company. He built the first garage in Williams, and ran the same for two years. When he arrived in Williams, he did not find here a single house that had been built within the last five years; and he immediately set to work to erect two new ones. He ran the first moving pictures seen in the town, devoting his garage to the purpose. He also built the first water works here, sinking a well and putting in a pumping system. This enterprise he is still managing; and in addition he conducts a plumbing, elec- tric wire and electric supply store, in which he also carries a full line of paints and oils. The first irrigation pumping plant in town was installed by Mr. Sweet. He is now experimenting with vege- table-growing, claiming that the local soil will produce as fine vegetables as are grown along the river. He is renting thirty- seven acres, and there he plants potatoes and a new variety of bean known as the Tehary.
When Mr. Sweet was married, he chose for his life associate Miss Mary Rowland, of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet are the parents of one son, Rowland F.
HANS HENRY HARDER
A pleasing picture of a wanderer from the Fatherland, who is later joined by an aged parent, and who himself retires at a com- fortable old age, a great-grandfather proud of his promising progeny, is presented in the life-story of Hans Henry Harder, a native of Holstein, Germany, where he was born on March 23, 1843. He grew up on the farm of his father-who, by the way, had the same name-spent two and a half years in the Germany army, and served for eleven months, in 1871, in the Franco-Prussian War, when he was taken sick and relieved from duty. While in Ger- many, he was married to Frl. Madeline Heintz, an estimable woman possessing many of the virtues for which the women folk of Germany have long been renowned.
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In 1874, Hans Harder emigrated to the United States, com- ing direct to Germantown, Cal., to which busy center his brother Theodore had preceded him. There he enjoyed such a welcome as Californians have always accorded to the pioneer from a foreign shore; and in a short time he was hard at work threshing the crops. The next year his wife and three children joined him. Later, when somewhat independent, he bought a half section of railroad land south of Germantown, and for many years farmed the same to grain. He was prosperous from the beginning, his lowest crop of grain weighing twenty-three tons, while his highest tipped the beam at more than a hundred eighteen tons. At first he lived in a small cabin; but as his means increased he built a larger and more modern home, and erected barns and other nec- essary outbuildings. His father joined him in Germantown, and lived on the ranch until his death, at the good old age of over ninety-five.
When the time seemed most propitious, Mr. Harder sold his ranch and came to Willows, where he built a bungalow home at 235 South Plumas Street, and has lived retired from business since August, 1913. In June of the following year his beloved wife died. She was highly esteemed in the community, and par- tienlarly in the circles of the Lutheran Church of Germantown, of which they were both members. Eight children, six of whom reached maturity, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harder, to each of whom he gave the best of educational advantages. The children are Mrs. Madeline Hohman, of Germantown; Mrs. Margaret Bar- den, now deceased; Mrs. Henry Michael and Mrs. Dora Pieper, both of Willows; Emma, of Berkeley; and August, of German- town. The family numbers twelve grandchildren and one great- grandchild.
TROY LAUNDRY
Sticking to a last-after one has made sure, of course, that the last in question is the one of all others to be desired, and therefore the one most likely to last-is not a bad plan, as has been demonstrated by C. C. Scott (or "Scotty," as he is commonly known among his friends), the popular proprietor of the very pros- perous Troy Laundry at Willows. Born at Red Oak, Iowa, in 1883, he moved to Ottawa, Kans., with the family when a small, and there was reared and educated. At an early age he worked in laundries at Ottawa, Kansas City, and Alliance, Nebr .; and in the latter state he himself owned a laundry plant. Later, he was in the laundry business at Port Collins, Colo., where he continued un-
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til, in 1910, he came to California. He settled for a while in Por- terville, Tulare County, and put in five years as foreman of the Troy Laundry there, and in caring for some valuable real estate which he owned in the town.
In November, 1915, Mr. Scott came to Willows and bought the laundry, which had been established in 1911. He installed new machinery, erected an oil tank with a capacity of a car load, and soon had the only completely equipped steam laundry in Willows, and the only steam laundry on the west side of the valley between Red Bluff and Williams. In a single year, he increased the busi- ness of the concern one hundred twenty-six per cent. Twelve hands are now employed; and besides enjoying a large local trade the laundry has agencies at Butte City and Germantown, and maintains a large patronage among the ranchers throughout the valley, besides running a country route to Maxwell.
C. C. Scott was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Wood, a native of Kansas. This union has been blessed by four attrac- tive children : Ross, Ralph, Helen and Hazel. In fraternal circles "Scotty" is well known as a Woodman of the World.
SETH W. STANTON
That inherited reputation for character and ability is a real asset, is apparent from the interesting record of successes made by Seth W. Stanton, the genial and highly esteemed superintend- ent of the County Hospital at Willows, who has made himself one of the best-known men in Glenn County. His father was H. C. Stanton, a native of Ohio; and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Rachel Evans, of Tennessee. Born in Geauga County, in the Buckeye State, on June 18, 1838, the elder Stanton came with his parents, in 1840, to Hancock County, Ill .; and twenty-two years later crossed the great plains to California by means of mule teams, landing in August of the same year on Grand Island, Colusa County. There he engaged in farming and teaming over the Sierra Nevada Mountains; but in the fall of 1863 he returned to Illinois. The next year, however, he recrossed the plains to California, and until 1870 lived again on Grand Island. From there he went to French Settlement, southwest of Willows, and now known as the Liberty district ; and soon he was farming on a large scale, devoting three thousand acres or more to grain and cattle. He built the first house seen there, and later put himself on record as favoring a first-class educational system, by doing all in his power to establish the first school in the district, of which
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he became trustee. On being elected in 1894 as the Republican candidate for sheriff and tax collector of Glenn County, he took up his residence at Willows; and having well satisfied his constitu- ents, he was reelected to the dual office in 1898. While holding this office he died, in 1903, and was buried with due Masonic hon- ors. Besides the subject of our sketch, five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stanton: Wilfred, a rancher at Orland; Mrs. Laura St. Louis, of the Liberty district; Harry, now residing in San Francisco; Mollie, one of the attractive ladies of Willows; and Mrs. Florence Cheatham, of Red Bluff.
Born at French Settlement, Colusa (now Glenn) County, July 14, 1870, Seth Stanton grew up, assisting his father on his farm, and for a short time was in the hotel business at Princeton. He remained associated with his father until the latter's death, in 1903, serving as deputy sheriff under him.
Having served in public office in this capacity, and also as school trustee of the Liberty district, Mr. Stanton, in 1904, was elected supervisor of Glenn County on the Republican ticket; and thereafter, for ten years continuously, he filled that responsible office, serving as chairman of the board four years of the time. He served the public well, and also added to his own knowledge of civic affairs.
In April, 1914, Mr. Stanton was appointed superintendent of the County Hospital; and this position he is still filling to every- body's satisfaction. The County Hospital grounds embrace twenty- five acres. Its buildings were constructed many years ago, but are still kept in good condition. Farming on a small scale is car- ried on there; hogs, stock and chickens are raised, and gardens are cultivated. The nurse, Mrs. Cliffie Tooley Clark, daughter of the late Dr. Tooley, is always in attendance. An operating room is provided for patients ; there is a padded cell for the insane; and everything is conducted in the most business-like and up-to-date manner. There is also provision for consumptives in a cottage on the grounds; and both inmates and property are so well cared for that Superintendent Stanton received favorable mention, in 1916, from the county grand jury, and received his fourth appointment to the position, the last two times without opposition. One fact of special interest may here be noted: that among the hospital pa- tients there are very few native Californians.
Mr. Stanton's first marriage occurred at Willows, in 1890, when he was united with Miss Emma Pollard, a native daughter of Willows. She died here, leaving a son, Pollard, then a year-old baby, whom Mr. Stanton reared, and who, on reaching manhood, married Thelma Covington. Pollard Stanton died in March, 1914,
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leaving one child, Floretta. In Colusa, on January 18, 1900, Mr. Stanton was married to Miss Bertha Pitcher, born in Watsonville, Cal., a daughter of Robert and California (Milsap) Pitcher, na- tives of Illinois and Tennessee respectively. The parents became proprietors of the Princeton Hotel, of which Mrs. Pitcher is still hostess. Mrs. Stanton was raised and educated at Princeton. She mothered little Pollard from the time he was four years of age. Since Mr. Stanton's appointment, she has been the matron of the institution ; and it is to her ability and care in the management of the household affairs that no small degree of Mr. Stanton's suc- cess is due. Mr. Stanton stands high in the esteem of his fellow- citizens, by whom he is regarded as a conscientious public servant, well qualified for the task imposed upon him, and thoroughly de- voted to the welfare of those committed to his'care.
SIEGFRIED A. LARSSON
The rewards of unceasing industry and application are well illustrated in the life and accomplishments of Siegfried A. Lars- son, the efficient and well-liked proprietor of the New England Furniture Company, at Willows. Born in the southwestern part of Sweden in 1885, he came to the United States when only sixteen years of age, landing in New York City with about two dollars in his pocket, and not a dozen words of English by which he might make himself understood. But he had a through ticket to Ot- tumwa, Iowa, where he obtained his first work in the packing house of John Morrell & Company. Young Siegfried proved adept, willing and honest, and soon stood high in the estimation of both employers and patrons. He next worked in the furniture and carpet house of the Collins & Heaslip Carpet Company; and learning the business from the ground up, he there started on the path he has since so successfully followed. He then went to the Des Moines branch of the same firm, and afterwards was em- ployed, in succession, by the Denver Dry Goods Company, in Den- ver; by Messrs. Grote & Rankin, at Spokane, where he was in the drapery department; by Olds, Worthman & King, at Portland; and finally by the Imperial Furniture Company, at Salem, Ore. This varied experience, under the several managements men- tioned, doubtless contributed much to make Mr. Larsson self- reliant and capable; but being more than ordinarily ambitious, he also took a course in salesmanship in the Sheldon Correspondence School.
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On July 19, 1913, Mr. Larsson came to Willows, and with C. E. Campbell and J. M. Galusha founded the New England Furni- ture Company, which bought out the firm of F. W. Talcott & Com- pany. Mr. Larsson has remained, on account of his years of prac- tical participation in the big furniture houses of the West, the active member of this new company; and to him is especially due the credit for having built up a fine business, which grows with each year. One exclusive line handled by the New England Fur- niture Company is the Edison Diamond Dise Phonograph. Other specialties for which they are the sole agents are the Globe-Wer- nicke bookcase, the Sherman-Clay pianos, and the MeRoskey mat- tress. They carry, also, a number of superior novelties such as vases, floor lamps, table lamps and antique furniture. This firm has entirely furnished a number of fine homes in Williams and Or- land, including the elegant residence of F. B. Weinrich, at Wil- lows, and those of J. J. Lochemeyer and E. E. Green, at Orland. The store has the appearance of a large city establishment. There are goods here not generally found in small towns; and the com- pany ships furniture and decorative articles even to Washington and Oregon, and has filled orders for Chicago.
At Des Moines, Iowa, Siegfried A. Larsson married Miss Edith Campbell, of that state; and they are now the parents of two attractive children, Campbell E. and Jane S. Larsson. Stand- ing for the most uplifting influences in the community, both Mr. and Mrs. Larsson find pleasure in supporting religious endeavor. Mr. Larsson is particularly interested in the work of the Y. M. C. A., as he has been, indeed, in each community in which he has resided since he came to America.
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